Our Little Cowgirl...4 Years Old!

On March 19th Lizzie turned 4 years old!  Over the past several months she has been telling us that she wants to be a cowgirl.  Well, now she's all set.  For her birthday Grandma and Papa gave her some fantastic red boots and a red hat to match.  She also got some barrel racing horses and a Barbie with a horse that really trots.  She got spoiled with lots of other fun gifts from aunts and uncles and Nana and friends.  What a lucky girl!  She started her birthday by going to breakfast with her family.  Then later on Blake took her and Hallie to a movie.  She's had a great weekend playing with all her fun new things.

It's always fun to have a day to celebrate each child individually. Lizzie is always willing to help and always has a hug or kiss or a sweet complement to share with Mom or Dad.  She and Hallie spend hours every weekend and in the evenings after school playing together.  Lizzie has a very special place in her heart for Baby Zach.  She constantly gives him loves and wants to make sure he is happy and well taken care of.  Lizzie adds so much to our family! 

New Cousins

It seems like Zach was just barely born, and Emilie brought her six-week-old, Sarah, to meet him.  We laughed at how big she seemed compared to him.  Now Zach gets to be the big cousin.  The other day we went to Nolan and Melissa's to meet their adorable new baby, Cole.  Even though Zach is probably three times heavier than he is, we know it won't take long for Cole to catch up.  Before you know it they'll be playing together and, no doubt, getting into some trouble together too.  

(We didn't notice until after Nolan took the picture that Zach was holding Cole's hand.)

Great to be 8!!!

On March 6th Hallie turned eight years old!  What a special birthday!  She's been counting down the days until her birthday, and she is so excited to get baptized at the end of the month. She has been such a good example to Lizzie.  Hallie has been such a good helper at home and has tried so hard to be kind to her mom and dad and to Lizzie.  We've been learning about baptism, and she is ready!  

She had a great birthday weekend with her family.  The night before her birthday, we went to see her cousin, Isabelle, play the part of Alice in her school play, Alice in Wonderland.  We even got to bring Annie, another special cousin, with us.  

The next morning Hallie opened gifts, and then that afternoon after meeting with the Bishop for her baptismal interview, Nana came over for dinner.  The birthday girl got to choose the menu: homemade chicken noodle soup, bread and jam, and crepes for dessert.

The following Saturday Lizzie and Hallie had a combined birthday party with some friends in the neighborhood.  Our family loves March, one celebration after another!  We have lots of friends and extended family with March birthdays, as well.  In fact, this year, our family welcomed the newest little cousin, Cole Nolan Johnson.  Nolan and Melissa finally got him here safely on March 1st.  We can't wait to meet him!

Valentine's Day, 2011!

This year Hallie was old enough to go the Kaysville's Father-Daughter Valentine's Dance.  She and Blake got all dressed up, went to dinner, and then danced the night away.  So, so cute!!!  Lizzie was a little disappointed that she couldn't go, but we had a fun night at home playing Polly Pockets.  

Then on Valentine's Day, I surprised the kids with prizes and treats, and that week both of the girls had fun parties at school.

Cashing in my Christmas Present...

A couple of days before Christmas, the kids and I ventured throught the white and drifting snow to Bear Lake to see my parents and some of my family who were there.  I kept trying to get Blake to come too, but I could tell he had something up his sleeve, so I tried not to press the issue.  When we returned on Christmas Eve, we found our home in better condition than we had left it.  For my Christmas present Blake had hired someone to come make repairs around the house and add crown molding and a tile backsplash, improvements I have been wanting to make since we moved in five years ago.  

Obviously, everything couldn't get finished in the two days we were gone.  In the next few weeks, though, I was able to pick my tile and have it installed.  When we arrived home from Disneyland, the crown molding was completed.  I love the way everything turned out.  It makes it feel like a new home again!

 

The 4th Annual Darling Disneyland Trip

I keep assuring Blake that we don't need to take the kids to Disneyland every year, and he keeps assuring me that, while they're young, yes we do!  He's a bit of a Disney die hard.  This year we went in February, though, which turned out to be a nice time to go.  The weather was perfect, and the parks weren't very busy. 

It was a trip of firsts:  Zach's first time there and Lizzie's first time on a family favorite, Tower of Terror.  Blake and I argued for several weeks about taking her on this ride.  I was sure that since she's scared to go down the slides at McDonald's Playland, she definitely would be horrified by the quick and far dips and drops in the Tower of Terror, not to mention the freaky elevator guys in the haunted hotel.  I can admit when I'm wrong...she loved it.  She went over and over.  Who knew?

 

Look Who's 3 Months Old!

Can you even believe how cute and cuddly this little Zachary is!?!  We just can't get enough of him. It's so incredible that in three short months he's grown so much, looks so different, and interacts in so many ways.  For the most part Zach is a happy baby.  Occasionally he'll have a fussy day, but what baby doesn't?  When he's happy, though, he is HAPPY.  He loves to smile and coo and laugh.

He has been doing so well with his sleeping.  Since Thanksgiving, he's only been waking up once a night, and lots of nights he'll sleep all night.  Our record, so far, is 10 1/2 hours.  Not too bad for a 3-month-old!  I feel like a new person since I've been getting more sleep. I have to admit, I was walking around like a zombie for the first couple of months.  I've never been more exhausted in my life.  Things are definitely looking up!

It has been so fun to watch Hallie and Lizzie interact with Zach.  They are excellent big sisters, and they are so proud of their adorable little brother.  While I was pregnant with him, we often wondered how we would ever manage taking care of three little ones.  Now we can't imagine our life without him.